James Scarrott will be keeping a keen eye on the Midlands lightweight title chase after he returns to the ring on fight night.
He’s back again at the Eastside Rooms, on Woodcock Street in Birmingham, where BCB Promotions are holding another show, on Saturday September 2.
The 19-year-old ends a 10-month hiatus from competitive action, but racked up four contests in his debut year, having turned pro at the age of 18.
Scarrott outpointed Dean Wilkinson, Paul Scaife, MJ Hall and Chris Adaway, all through four-round points whitewashes, with each of the final score-lines being 40-36.
He also has 30 bouts of amateur experience, amassing 18 wins among them and claiming area honours in the England Schools, Junior (twice) and Youth Championships.
That was representing hometown outfit Worcester City Boxing Club, who he last featured for in a second Youth Midlands decider, where he lost to Lewis Lawton on a split decision.
Area contention is again in his sights, this time as a professional, with the vacant Midlands crown soon to be contested between Jamie Stewart and Kirk Stevens.
The winner has been ordered, by the British Boxing Board of Control, to defend against Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards, a BCB stable-mate of Scarrott’s, by the end of the year.
That could make for an interesting 2023, should Scarrott have his way, but getting up and running again is the short-term goal.
He said: “I’ve been back in the gym for a couple of months now and, in sparring, I’m actually punching harder and sharper. I think my man strength is starting to come through.
“I’ve sparred with Connor Parker, Ryan Kelly (former Midlands champions) and Macauley Owen (fellow pro prospect). There’s always someone around to have a few rounds with.
“I’ve had some time out, but I’m not losing sleep over it. After four fights, in less than five months, I was already well along, although I’d have liked to have done more.
“The plan is to go up to six rounds, do that, get another six-rounder in and then I want to go for the Midlands title (at super lightweight), probably early next year.
“I feel like I can put myself through back-to-back training camps, because I’m young, so I’ll get myself going again and be straight back on it after.
“I’m 4-0 and they were good performances, in different ways. On my debut, I thought I boxed well (against Dean Wilkinson) and, in my second fight, I nearly stopped him (Paul Scaife). .
“The third one was against MJ Hall, who is a tough southpaw, so I kept him at range and picked my shots. In the fourth, I had to chase the guy (Chris Adaway) around the ring.
“I’ll be cracking on now and, hopefully, the division will open up for me, in the next few months. I’m 20 in December, so I won’t be a teenager anymore!”
Tickets for the Eastside Rooms bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.
